06/03/2026
Everyone says “stress is bad for you”… but what is it actually doing inside your body?
When your brain perceives stress, it switches your nervous system into what we call fight or flight.
This is a survival response designed to help you escape immediate danger like running away from a saber-tooth tiger.
When that system turns on, your body rapidly reallocates its energy toward things that keep you alive in that moment:
your heart rate increases, blood flow moves to your muscles, and stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline rise.
But because energy is limited, the body temporarily down-prioritises functions that aren’t essential for immediate survival.
That includes digestion and reproduction.
So during chronic stress you often see reduced stomach acid, lower digestive enzyme output, and changes in gut motility, which can contribute to bloating, reflux, and nutrient deficiencies.
Reproductive hormones can also take a back seat, which is why many people notice irregular cycles, worsening PMS, or changes to ovulation when stress is high.
On the flip side, the body also has the rest and digest state driven by the parasympathetic nervous system.
This is when digestion works efficiently, nutrients are absorbed properly, and the reproductive system has the resources it needs to function normally.
So, when we stay in that stress response for long periods of time, systems like the gut and hormones often start to feel the consequences.
This is precisely why as a naturopath the nervous system always has to be prioritised in every treatment plan no matter the condition.
